Griffin, Luck Jump Into Top Five Of NFL Jersey Sales Since April; Peyton Still Leads

The NFL yesterday released its top-selling player jerseys for the period of April 1-May 28, with the first two picks in last month's draft making a big splash. Redskins QB Robert Griffin III ranks third for the time period, with Colts QB Andrew Luck ranking fourth. Griffin and Luck have the two top-selling jerseys during the month of May. Broncos QB Peyton Manning continues to top the list, with Jets QB Tim Tebow ranking second. Below is a list of the top 25 player jerseys sold during the time period (NFL).

Top Selling NFL Player Jerseys on NFLShop.com (April 1 - May 28, 2012)

RANK

PLAYER

RANK

PLAYER

1

Broncos QB Peyton Manning

14

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski

2

Jets QB Tim Tebow

15

Lions WR Calvin Johnson

3

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III

16

Packers LB Clay Matthews

4

Colts QB Andrew Luck

17

Bears LB Brian Urlacher

5

Giants QB Eli Manning

18

Giants WR Victor Cruz

6

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

19

Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware

7

49ers LB Patrick Willis

20

Raiders RB Darren McFadden

8

Patriots QB Tom Brady

21

Broncos LB Von Miller

9

Panthers QB Cam Newton

22

Cowboys TE Jason Witten

10

Steelers S Troy Polamalu

23

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger

11

Cowboys QB Tony Romo

24

Patriots WR Wes Welker

12

Ravens LB Ray Lewis

25

Eagles QB Michael Vick

13

Saints QB Drew Brees

NO SURPRISE HERE: In Denver, Mike Klis wrote it should “surprise no one that Peyton Manning’s new No. 18 Broncos jersey and Tim Tebow’s new No. 15 Jets jersey were the NFL’s top two selling jerseys in the months of April and May.” Kils: “New teams, new look, new jerseys. The only question is who would be No. 1.” The scenario of Manning replacing Tebow “reiterated that Manning is better than Tebow -- and therefore Manning is cooler than Tebow” (DENVERPOST.com, 5/29). ESPN’s Stephen A Smith said of Manning leading the list, “I just applaud the fact that people are recognizing football players before celebrities” (“First Take,” ESPN2, 5/30).

A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN: In DC, Dan Steinberg wrote Redskins fans “have done this before; Donovan McNabb had the NFL’s second-highest selling jersey after he was traded to D.C.” Steinberg: “I still haven’t been able to figure out the last time a Redskin had the top-selling jersey in the league.” Despite being ranked third, and only being a Redskin as of late April, Griffin “has already done something that very few Redskins have done over the past two decades” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/29).